I have used my Kuretake Gansai watercolors to create the background with the red and pearl colors. Then I stamped the lace doily with white pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. The flower is made using Kanzashi techniques, and I added the white pearl stamen from Marion Smith Designs. The sentiment is from Crafter's Companion Heartfelt Wishes stamp set and the small white doily is die cut using the Spellbinders Teardrop Doily die set.

I love creating these flowers with ribbon. Such a fun and easy technique that creates beautiful flowers. The satin ribbon from Crafty Ribbons is heaven to work with and lends itself very well to these Kanzashi techniques. I definitely have to order more :)

Don't forget to join in the challenge, you can find it here. You can also find loads of inspiration from the entire design team on the inspiration blog here :) Until next time....a-packing-I-will-go :P

Sunday, April 26, 2015

I created this wedding card, by first making a watercolor background with my super awesome Zig watercolors. I matched the ribbon to the watercolors before I started of course :P

Then I used a wide sheer ribbon to create flower petals in Kanzashi style and then created the bloom. I added stamen and a gingham ribbon bow, and voila! If you would like to see how these Kanzashi petals are made, I shall do a tutorial soon. But to be honest, you can find a ton of tutorials on youtube. That's how I learned.

For all your ribbon, lace and button needs, please visit the Crafty Ribbons website. And don't forget about the challenges, you can find them here :) You can also find Crafty Ribbons on Pinterest and Facebook. Tata for now!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Having some serious fun with The East Wind digital images, and how could you not have fun with them? They are so original. I struggled for a sentiment for this one tho, lol. She is called Siesta and she just looks so comfortable and relaxed, lol. And you know, if an animal is comfortable enough to fall asleep with you, that you are the best in their eyes and that's what counts!

Siesta by The East Wind

I have colored with my Copics, Prismacolor Brush Markers, and my Prismacolor markers in the following colors:

Hair: Copics - E99

PC946, 948

Skin: Copics - E000

PC927, 939, 1029

Dress/Shoes: Prisma - PB48

PC1088, 1027, 901

Dog: Copics - E21

PC997, 945, 943

Hedgehog: Copics - E70

PC1072, 1074, 1076

Siesta by The East Wind

I also followed the same sketch maps from Pagemaps.com to complete this card, and you can find it here :)
This is the second of my challenge to myself and I am really enjoying this. Not only does it help you to make the cards if you struggle with placement, but it also teaches you when to stop adding embellishments, lol.

If you are looking for something new and original to color and create with, stop by The East Wind Etsy shop to see all of Unky's beautiful images :)

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Had a wee bit of fun with these rubber stamps from Noelle Martin over at Quick Creations :) She asked me to use the CC Designs Mason Jar Stamp and the Denami Flower Bloom stamp...together!!!! Another challenge to learn from. After pondering this request for a couple weeks I finally decided to turn the mason jar on its side and plant a garden inside!

I have blocked in the colors with my copics, and then added the shading and details with my Prismacolor Premiere Pencils :)

Monday, April 20, 2015

One of the new release rubber stamps from The Paper Nest Dolls, Maddy with Glasses, has stolen my heart :) She is just so sweet! So I have colored her with my copics (new thing!) and my Prismacolor Pencils, to create this card :)

I have starting blocking in the color with alcohol markers as I find it gives a much fuller color to the image :) But I have reverted back to my pencils for shading and details of course :) I own very few Copics and Prismacolor Brush Markers, so I'll be working with a limited color palette until I can get more colors!

Maddy with Glasses by The Paper Nest Dolls

Something else I have been doing that's new: I have challenged myself to create all my projects using sketches:) I found a website with sketches that I really like, and they combine their sketches into a pdf for you to download! So here's the one I started with, from Pagemaps.com. Check back often to see more projects using this page of card sketches :) This is only the first of ten.

If you are looking for some new and very sweet rubber stamp images, come on over to The Paper Nest Dolls online store to see them all! And don't forget about our monthly challenge, where it's always Anything Goes for a chance to win an awesome prize :)

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

How can you say no to beautiful butterflies, and after the long winter we've had, I am so looking forward to seeing them in real life :) For Quick Creations this week, I made this Happy Day card and I really love how it turned out.

I cut two of the dies, and shaded one in the center and one on the outside edges with my Stampin' Up Island Indigo ink pad. Then I glued them together in the center and popped up the two of them up with a dimensional adhesive. The doilies are from Recollections. I used one of the sentiments from the Time for Tea Ponytail Rubber Stamp, and the flowers are from Kaisercraft. The papers are Prima "Butterfly" 6 x 6 paper pad. I also used the Wild Rose Studio Butterfly Burst Die. Most of these products (except for the Recollections Doilies) can be found in the Quick Creations online shop. I have linked them all for you :)

Don't forget to visit the challenge blog for the monthly challenges for a chance to win an awesome prize :)

Use my special code in the online shop for a discount! The code is LEAH10

Friday, April 10, 2015

It's new release day at The East Wind ! This time, Unky has created for you a new Diva Lisa image, called Cheeky II. She is gorgeous!

I colored her with my favorite medium, Prismacolor Premiere Pencils (of course :) And added some paper blocks and a Cheery Lynn die cut, but she really doesn't need a lot of embellishment.

To find this and many more original and awesome images by Unky Lastrange, please visit The East Wind Etsy shop or website. Don't forget about the FB challenges! You can also find The East Wind on Instagram!

The theme for this weeks challenge is EASTER! Awesome challenge theme don't ya think? It finally feels like spring is coming over here in my neck of the woods...how about a Blog Hop to celebrate! There are 12 stops along the hop, and at each stop a letter will be revealed for you :) At the end of the hop you should be able to unscramble all letters to reveal a word (s). A nifty prize pack from Crafty Ribbons is just waiting for you to win!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

A terrible tragedy overtook a family in my area a couple weeks ago. The family had been out of town for a hockey tournament, and on the way home, the grandfather had a stroke while driving the van, carrying his daughter and two grand daughters and grand son. The two grand daughters and the grand father passed away, leaving the mother and the grandson in critical condition in the hospital in Toronto. I knew the older girl, she went to school where I work, and the whole school community felt such a deep loss. During this time, I thought to myself, I never have a sympathy card when I need one. We don't like to think we will ever need them, but we do, and we will.

So I poured my heart and soul into this watercolor sympathy card and I will have it on hand when I need, should I need it, and yes, I know....at some point...I will need it. Sad as it is :(

I used an Altenew stamp that I just adore and heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. The I used my brand new Zig watercolors to paint - inside the lines so-to-speak. I love the outcome of this, so perfect and classy. I used a stamp from my stash for the sentiment (sorry I don't know what company the stamp is from) and added dew drops with my Ranger Glossy Accents.

I am supremely impressed with this new stamp company. The Altenew stamps are so crisp and clear and don't seem to require any conditioning at all. I will definitely be ordering from them again soon :)

Monday, April 6, 2015

It's a good day to be a fairy :) The sun is shining, finally there is no wind and the snow is melting. It is a good day to be anybody! lol

I have chosen Fairy Avery with gift for my challenge piece this week for The Paper Nest Dolls. And I have colored her up in nice bright colors. The only problem came when I went to build her a card, lol. I am in the process of moving, and realized that I had packed all of my nice bright patterned paper. So I used what I had on hand, and I think she turned out ok :)

Fairy Avery with Gift by The Paper Nest Dolls

I colored her using my Prismacolor Premiere Pencils. They are my favorite medium, however, I have been experimenting with new mediums...copics and watercolors! Loving every single one I try, which is not always a good thing, lol...as my bank account to attest to :P

I love the simplicity of this technique (plus it cuts down on the amount of supplies to bring with you if yer on the move :), and the starkness of the white on black just makes the image stand out that bit more. I prefer to use pencil for this technique, although I'm sure you could achieve it with other mediums, because it allows me to add the shading by softening my pressure on the pencil.

You can find this awesome rubber stamp image in Noelle's online store at Quick Creations :) Don't forget about the monthly challenges for a chance to win a gift certificate the store!